The 38th World Diamond Congress, the biennial meeting of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA), began on Tuesday (October 23) in Mumbai.

UK Jewellery Awards 2018 shortlist revealed

The shortlist for the 2018 edition of the biggest night in the industry’s calendar, the UK Jewellery Awards (UKJA), has been revealed.

This year’s shortlist features almost 120 companies and individuals who have been selected as finalists across 18 categories that recognise excellence in all aspects of the industry, from design and sales excellence through to retailers and brands.

The shortlist, selected by the Retail Jeweller editorial team, was whittled down from more than 300 entries in 16 enterable categories. A further two categories – Jewellery Brand of the Year and Watch Brand of the Year – were nominated by the editorial team and will be decided by consumer vote.

The companies on the shortlist in the remaining 16 categories will be presented to the panel of UKJA judges – made up of a selection of experts from across the industry – at a series of judging days to be held in May.

Those shortlisted in the retail categories will also be subject to a mystery shop by UKJA mystery shopping partner Storecheckers.

This year’s edition of the awards – often dubbed the “jewellery industry Oscars” – will take place on July 4, 2018 at the Artillery Garden at the Honourable Artillery Company in the heart of the City of London. This is a new venue for the awards and features an inside awards venue and an adjacent funfair, as well as offering unlimited alcohol for guests.

Welsh jewellery brand Clogau has been named as headline partner of the event for the fifth year running. Other sponsors already confirmed for 2018 include watch brand Citizen, fine jewellery manufacturer Hockley Mint, trade show International Jewellery London, software supplier Pursuit, insurance specialists TH March and jewellery brand Uno de 50, as well as official supporter, the National Association of Jewellers.

This year’s shortlist includes:

Best Multichannel Retail Offer

Sponsored by Pursuit Software Limited

Argento Jewellery

Azendi

Carat* London

Clogau

Mococo

Susannah Lovis

Thomas Sabo

Brand to Watch

Adore Jewelry

Astra Jewellery

Bailey of Sheffield

Birks

Henryka

Insignety

Karl Lagerfeld Jewelry

Les Georgettes

Lucinda King Jewellery

Vixi Jewellery

Bridal Jewellery Retailer of the Year

Sponsored by Hockley Mint

Anais Rose

Baroque Bespoke Jewellery

Bond Jewellery & Diamonds

Jessica Flinn Jewellery

Queensmith Master Jewellers

Rivoli Jewellers

Sarah Layton Jewellers

Employer of the Year

Beaverbrooks the Jewellers

Citizen

Cooksongold

Jeremy France Jewellers

Rudell the Jewellers

The Jewellery Channel

Ethical Jewellery Business of the Year

Cred Jewellery

Eden Diodati

Gemporia

Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery

Hockley Mint

La Maison Couture

Vurchoo

WB The Creative Jewellery Group

Jewellery Brand of the Year

ChloBo

Clogau

Links of London

Nomination

Pandora

Swarovski

Thomas Sabo

Uno de 50

Jewellery Designer of the Year

Alyssa Smith, Alyssa Smith Jewellery

Chupi Sweetman, Chupi

Claudia Bradby, Claudia Bradby Jewellery

Daniella Draper, Daniella Draper

Elina Faurschou, Phine

Gee Woods, Gee Woods Jewellery

Julien Riad Sahyoun, JRS London

Rachel Boston, Rachel Boston Jewellery

Sophie Lomax, 77 Diamonds

Jewellery/Watch Supplier of the Year

Calvin Klein Watches & Jewelry

Citizen

Clogau

Curteis

Domino Jewellery

Hockley Mint

Hot Diamonds Group

Kit Heath

Ntinga

Rotary Watches

Sequel UK

Marketing Campaign of the Year

#WithYou, International Jewellery London

Anastacia x Arctic Circle Diamonds, Hockley Mint

Bath’s Wylde Treasure Hunt from Nicholas Wylde, Nicholas Wylde

Citizen Eco Drive, Citizen

Immerse Yourself in Lumbers, Lumbers

Interlude, Clogau

Pippa Small Jewellery Marketing Campaign, Pippa Small Jewellery

Unity Band for Cancer Research UK and World Cancer Day, Anouska Georgia London